Conor wrote:
Silicon is used as an anti-foaming agent in petrol apparently.

D

adder1969 wrote:
Not surprisingly - Tesco 99 Octane fuel is the one the British Rally
Championship cars run on.

David

"David Hearn" <dave (AT) NOswampieSPAM (DOT) org.uk> wrote

It's used in Diesel, not petrol, hence the problem.

Regards,
Ian

"Ian" <ianmcleod_dunvegan (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote in news:45e883e8$0$8754
$ed2619ec (AT) ptn-nntp-reader02 (DOT) plus.net:

I can remember someone on brickboards.com warning people not to use
silicon based products upstream of the air flow meter, as it would screw
the heated wire used. Sounds like the same sort of problem.

--
Tunku

"end user" v. A command regrettably not implemented in most systems :-)

Daytona <me (AT) privacy (DOT) net> wrote:
Silicon is a hard semi-metallic element, that in its natural state looks
a bit like opaque grey-black glass.

Silicone is a compound made from silicon replacing what would normally
be carbon, in hydrocarbons.
This can be anything from lubricants, to gels, to hard plastics.

On 03 Mar 2007 00:05:19 GMT, Ian Stirling <root (AT) mauve (DOT) demon.co.uk>
wrote:

Thanks, but do you know what effect will it have on catalytic
converters, injectors, cylinders, spark plugs etc ? Long or short term
?

Latest info. from the Trading Standards Institute -

"Fuel Tests Confirm Contamination (Press Release)

2nd March 2007

The first tests carried out for Trading Standards authorities on
potentially contaminated petrol samples, following complaints from
thousands of motorists, have confirmed the presence of silicon.

Ian Hillier, Lead Officer Petroleum, Trading Standards Institute,
said: 'The first result is from a sample of unleaded petrol supplied
by a motorist in Cambridgeshire whose car suffered a breakdown.

'Silicon products are used by fuel producers as anti-foaming agents in
diesel. However, Silicon can cause serious problems in petrol engines,
particularly in modern cars with computerised fuel management systems.
Silicon can build up as a deposit on sensors causing them to
malfunction.
..
..
NOTES TO EDITORS

Silicon

The presence of Silicon in our sample may indicate contamination with
Silicone, which is the anti-foaming agent used in diesel."

<URL:http://www.tsi.org.uk/new/index.htm?frmClient=5EEF459D-C7FB-4488-831A51743A8C3A13&frmItemID=254&frmShared=0>


"Petrol Contamination Update - Final Results Awaited (Press Release)

2nd March 2007

We are still awaiting the final results of tests on fuel samples taken
following complaints from motorists of possible contamination.

Initial tests on a sample of fuel have confirmed that it complies with
British and European Standard BS EN 228:2004.

This standard sets out maximum and minimum levels for common
ingredients in unleaded petrol. It also sets out maximum levels for
some of the most frequently occurring contaminants such as lead,
sulphur and copper.

However, compliance with the standard does not rule out the presence
of a contaminant which would not normally be found in unleaded petrol.
Tests are continuing for the possible presence of such a contaminant."

<URL:http://www.tsi.org.uk/new/index.htm?frmClient=5EEF459D-C7FB-4488-831A51743A8C3A13&frmItemID=253&frmShared=0>

Daytona <me (AT) privacy (DOT) net> wrote:
Directly, it has absolutely no effect on any of those.
Indirectly, it poisons the oxygen sensor (in some models) which makes it
need to be replaced (in some cases, heating it to a higher than nominal
temperature in a blowtorch can make it work again).

Indirectly, this may cause catalyst damage, if you drive for
a long time with the sensor damaged (the engine check light will come
on).

In theory, it could cause other damage, but this is going to take a very
long time.

Daytona (me (AT) privacy (DOT) net) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were
saying :

The official spec for 95RON Premium Unleaded allows up to 5% Ethanol,
anyway.

<From what I read or heard on the news somewhere>
Burnt in petrol engines it can form Silicon Dioxide, which coats the
lambda. Those cars which are affected are reported to be mainly 2-5yo
EuroIII compliant.

This seems to suggest that Silicon is a known contaminant of Lambdas.
http://www.picotech.com/auto/lambda_sensor.html

But - probably cause of the contamination... It's used as an anti-foaming
agent in diseasel. Somebody fucked up and tipped it in the wrong tank.

On 03 Mar 2007 15:52:15 GMT, Adrian <toomany2cvs (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote:

Interesting site - thanks !

Yeah, that would be high up on the list of likely causes !

Daytona

On 03 Mar 2007 12:49:51 GMT, Ian Stirling <root (AT) mauve (DOT) demon.co.uk>
wrote:

Excellent info. - thanks Ian !

Daytona